steering SKODA FABIA 2014 2.G / 5J Owner's Manual

›Head airbags.
› Anchoring points for child seats using the ISOFIX system.
› Anchoring points for child seats using the TOP TETHER system.
› Head restraints adjustable for height.
› Adjustable steering column.
The specified safety equipment works together, in order to optimally protect you and those travelling with you in accident situations.
The safety equipment does not protect you or the people travelling with you, if
you or your occupants adopt an incorrect seated position or the equipment is not correctly adjusted or used.
If the seat belt is not fastened properly, this may result in injuries during an
accident caused by the deployed airbag.
Correct and safe seated position
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Correct seated position of the driver
7
Adjusting the steering wheel position
8
Correct seated position of the front passenger
8
Correct seated position of the rear seat passengers
9
Examples of incorrect seated positions
9WARNING■ The front seats and all head restraints must be adjusted to match the
body size at all times and the seat belt must always be fastened properly to
provide the most effective levels of protection to the passengers.■
Each occupant must correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to the seat.
Children must be fastened » page 19, Transporting children safely with a
suitable restraint system.
■
If the occupant adopts an incorrect seated position, he is exposed to life-
threatening injuries, in case he is hit by a deployed airbag.
■
If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk of injury
is increased due to incorrect routing of the seat belt.
■
The seat backrests must not be tilted too far back when driving, as this
will impair the function of the seat belts and of the airbag system – risk of
injury!
Correct seated position of the driverFig. 1
The correct distance of the driver to the steering wheel/correctly
adjusted head restraint
Read and observe
on page 7 first.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident,we recommend the following settings.
Adjust the driver’s seat in the forward/back direction so that the pedals
can be fully depressed with slightly bent legs.
Adjust the seat backrest so that the highest point of the steering wheel
can be reached with your arms at a slight angle.
Adjust the steering wheel so that the distance
A
between the steering
wheel and your chest is at least 25 cm » Fig. 1. Adjusting the steering
wheel » page 8 , Adjusting the steering wheel position .
Adjust the head restraint such that the top edge of the head restraint is at
the same level as the upper part of your head
B
.
Correctly fasten the seat belt » page 10, Wearing seat belts .
Setting the seats and head restraints » page 65 . 
7Passive Safety

WARNING■Always assume the correct seated position before setting off and do not
change this position while driving. Also advise your passengers to adopt
the correct seated position and not to change this position while the car is
moving.■
Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel, and a dis-
tance of at least 10 cm between the legs and the dash panel at the height
of the knee airbag. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that
the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
■
When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the out-
er edge in the “9 o'clock” and “3 o'clock” position. Never hold the steering
wheel in the “12 o'clock” position or in any other way (e.g. in the middle or
inner edge of the steering wheel). In such cases, you could severely injure
your arms, hands and head when the driver airbag is deployed.
■
Ensure that there are no objects in the driver's footwell, as these may get
caught in the pedal apparatus when driving or braking. You would then no
longer be able to operate the clutch, brake or acceleration pedals.
Adjusting the steering wheel position
Fig. 2
Adjustable steering wheel: Lever
below steering wheel
Read and observe on page 7 first.
The height and forward/back position of the steering wheel can be adjusted.
›
Swivel the lever underneath the steering wheel downwards » Fig. 2.
›
Adjust the steering wheel to the desired position (with regard to the height
and forward/back position).
›
Push the lever upwards to the stop.
WARNING■ The lever for adjusting the steering wheel must be locked while you are
driving so that the position of the steering wheel cannot accidently change
during the journey – there is the risk of an accident.■
Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving only when
the vehicle is stationary!
Correct seated position of the front passenger
Read and observe
on page 7 first.
For passenger safety and to reduce the risk of injury in an accident, the follow-ing instructions must be observed.
Position the front passenger seat back as far as possible. The front pas-
senger must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the dash panel so
that the airbag offers the greatest possible safety if it is deployed.
Adjust the head restraint such that the top edge of the head restraint is at
the same level as the upper part of your head
B
» Fig. 1 on
page 7 » page 7 .
Correctly fasten the seat belt » page 10.
Setting the seats and head restraints » page 65 .
In exceptional cases the front passenger airbag can be deactiva-
ted » page 17 , Deactivating airbags .
WARNING■
Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the dash panel. Not maintaining
this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you - hazard!■
Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being driven – nev-
er place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the
surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it be-
comes necessary to apply the brake or in the event of an accident. If an air-
bag is deployed, you may suffer fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect
seated position!
8Safety

WARNING (Continued)■The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to
protect and the risk of injury increases.■
The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked otherwise the belt
tongue will not lock in place properly.
■
Many layers of clothing and loose clothing (e. g. a winter coat over a jack-
et) do not allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of
the seat belts.
■
It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e. g. for
shortening the belts for smaller persons).
■
The seat belts for the rear seats can only fulfil their function reliably
when the seat backrests are correctly locked into position » page 66.
WARNINGInformation on the care and maintenance of the safety belts■The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belts may impair
proper operation of the inertia reel » page 134, Seat belts .■
The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not at-
tempt to repair the seat belts yourself.
■
Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If any damage
to the seat belts, seat belt connections, inertia reel or the lock is detected,
the seat belt concerned must be replaced by a specialist garage.
■
Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident
and were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is best done by a
specialist garage. The anchorage points of the belts must also be inspec-
ted. The anchorage points for the belts should also be checked.
Note
The national legal requirements must be observed when using seat belts.The physical principle of a frontal collisionFig. 4
Driver without a fastened seat belt/rear seat passenger without a
fastened seat belt
Read and observe
on page 10 first.
As soon as the vehicle is moving, so-called kinetic energy (the energy of mo-
tion) is produced both in terms of the car as well as in terms of the occupants.
The magnitude of this kinetic energy depends essentially on the speed at
which the vehicle is travelling and on the weight of the vehicle including the
occupants. The greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the
amount of energy which has to be absorbed in the event of an accident.
The speed of the vehicle is the most important factor. Doubling the speed of
the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy four
times.
The notion that it is possible to support your body with your hands in a minor
accident is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces acting
on the body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces that your body is exposed to in the event of an accident can exceed a ton (1000 kg).
For example, a person's weight of 80 kg “increases” at 50 km/h to 4.8 tons (4800 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the car not wearing a seat belt
are thrown forward and strike parts of the interior of the car, such as the
steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen in ways which cannot be control-
led » Fig. 4 -
 . In certain circumstances you could even be thrown out of the
vehicle, which could cause life threatening or even fatal injuries. 
11Seat belts

Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
System description
14
Airbag deployment
14WARNING■ An airbag can only offer you optimal protection in combination with a fas-
tened seat belt.■
The airbag is not a substitute for the seat belt, but instead forms part of
the complete passive vehicle safety concept.
■
To ensure passengers are protected with the greatest possible effect
when the airbag is deployed, the front seats must be correctly adjusted to
match the body size » page 7, Correct and safe seated position .
■
If you do not fasten the seat belts when driving, lean too far forward or
adopt an incorrect seated position, you are exposing yourself to increased
risk of injury in the event of an accident.
WARNINGInformation on the use of the airbag system■If there is a fault, the airbag system must be checked by a specialist ga-
rage immediately. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activa-
ted in the event of an accident.■
No modifications of any kind must be made to parts of the airbag system.
■
Any work on the airbag system including the installation and removal of
system components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the steering
wheel) must only be carried out by a specialist garage.
■
Never make any changes to the front bumper or bodywork.
■
It is prohibited to tamper with individual parts of the airbag system as this
might result in the airbag being deployed.
■
The protective function of the airbag system is sufficient for only one ac-
cident. The airbag system must then be replaced if the airbag has been de-
ployed.
System description
Read and observe
on page 14 first.
The functional status of the airbag system is indicated by the 
indicator light
in the instrument cluster » page 40.
When the airbags are deployed they fill with gas and inflate.
A grey white or red, non-harmful gas is released when the airbag is inflated.
This is perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The airbag system consists – depending on the vehicle equipment – of the
following modules.
› Electronic control unit.
› Front airbag for the driver and the front passenger
» page 15.
› Side airbags
» page 16.
› Head airbags
» page 17.
› Airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster
» page 40.
› Key switch for the front passenger airbag
» page 18.
› Warning light for front passenger airbag deactivation in dash panel cen-
tre » page 18 .
Note
■
The airbag system needs no maintenance during its working life.■If you sell your vehicle, provide the complete vehicle documentation to the
new owner. Please note that the information relating to the possibility of de-
activating the front passenger airbag must be included!■
When disposing of vehicle or parts of the airbag system, it is important to
comply with the national legal requirements.
Airbag deployment
Read and observe
on page 14 first.
The airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed in order to be
able to offer that additional protection in the event of an accident.
The airbag system is only functional when the ignition is switched on.
In certain accident situations, the several airbags may be deployed simultane-
ously.
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions,
rear-end collisions, tilting of the vehicle and vehicle rollover. 
14Safety

Deployment factors
It is not possible to generally determine which deployment conditions apply to
the airbag system in every situation. An important role is played by factors
such as the type of object that the vehicle hits (hard/soft), the impact angle,
vehicle speed, etc.
A decisive factor for the deployment of the airbags is the deceleration which
occurs. The control unit analyses the nature of the collision and activates the
relevant restraint system.
If the vehicle deceleration which occurs and is measured during the collision
remains below the prescribed reference values specified in the control unit,
the airbags are not deployed although the vehicle may well suffer severe dam-
age to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The following airbags will be deployed in the event of a severe frontal
collision.
› Driver’s front airbag.
› Front passenger airbag.
The following airbags will be deployed in the event of a severe side collision.
› Front side airbag on the side of the accident.
› Head airbags on the side of the accident.
In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed:
› the interior lighting comes on (if the switch for the interior light is in the door
contact position),
› the hazard warning light is switched on;
› all the doors are unlocked;
› the fuel supply to the engine is interrupted.
Airbag overview

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Front airbags
15
Side airbags
16
Head airbags
17Front airbagsFig. 8
Driver airbag in the steering wheel/front passenger airbag in the
dashboard
Fig. 9
Safe distance to steering wheel/inflated airbags
In the event of a severe frontal collision, the front airbag system offers addi-
tional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and front passenger.
The front airbag for the driver is housed in the steering wheel » Fig. 8 -
 .
The front airbag for the front seat passenger is located in the dash panel
above the glove compartment » Fig. 8 -
 .
The airbags inflate in front of the driver and front passenger when they are
deployed » Fig. 9 -
 . The forward movement of the driver and of the front
passenger is cushioned when they make contact with the fully inflated airbag
and the risk of injury to head and chest is thus reduced. 
15Airbag system

WARNINGInformation on correct seating position■For the driver and front passenger, it is important to maintain a distance
of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dashboard A
» Fig. 9 . Not
keeping to this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not
be able to properly protect you – risk of death. The front seats and the
head restraints must always also be correctly adjusted to match the body
size of the occupant.
■
The airbag develops enormous forces when triggered, which can lead to
injuries if the sitting position or seated position is not correct.
■
There must not by any further persons, animals or objects positioned be-
tween the front seated occupants and the deployment area of the airbag.
WARNINGFront airbag and transporting children■Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without using a
proper restraint system. If airbags are deployed in the event of an accident,
the child might suffer severe or even fatal injuries!■
It is essential to switch off the front passenger airbag if you are using a
child seat on the front passenger seat in which the child is carried with its
back facing the direction of travel » page 17, Deactivating airbags . If this
is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries
if the front passenger airbag is deployed. When transporting a child on the
front passenger seat, pay attention to any relevant national regulations re-
garding the use of child safety seats.
WARNINGGeneral information■The steering wheel and the surface of the airbag module in the dash pan-
el on the passenger side must not have stickers attached, be covered or
modified in any other way. These parts should only be cleaned with a cloth
that is dry or has been moistened with water. No objects such as cup hold-
ers, mobile phone mounts, etc. must be attached to the covers of the air-
bag modules or be located within their immediate vicinity.■
Never place objects on the surface of the front passenger airbag module
in the dash panel.
Side airbagsFig. 10
Location of the side airbag in the driver's seat/gas-filled side air-
bag
In the event of severe side collisions, the side airbag system provides addition-
al protection for the upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of passengers in
the vehicle.
The side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the seat backrests of the
front seats » Fig. 10 –
.
The head airbag and belt tensioner on the relevant side are also automatically
deployed when the side airbags » Fig. 10 -
 are deployed.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully inflated
airbag and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest, stomach and pel-
vis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
WARNINGInformation on correct seating position■Your head should never be positioned in the deployment area of the side
airbag. You might suffer severe injuries in the event of an accident. This ap-
plies in particular to children who are transported without using a suitable
child safety seat » page 21, Child safety and side airbag .■
There must not be any further persons, animals or objects positioned be-
tween the occupants and the deployment area of the airbag. No accesso-
ries, such as cup holders, should be attached to the doors.
■
If children adopt an incorrect seated position when travelling, they may
be exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident. This
can result in serious injuries » page 19, Child seat . 
16Safety

Deactivating airbags
Deactivating an airbag should be considered only in the following cases, for
example.
› When using a child seat on the front passenger seat, in which the child has
its back to the vehicle's direction of travel (in some countries this must be in
the direction of travel due to different legal regulations applying) » page 19,
Transporting children safely .
› If it is not possible to maintain a distance of at least 25 cm between the mid-
dle of the steering wheel and chest, despite the driver's seat being correctly
adjusted.
› If special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because
of a physical disability.
› If other seats have been installed (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side air-
bags).
The front passenger airbag can be switched off with the key-operated
switch » page 18 .
We recommend that you ask a ŠKODA Service Partner to switch off any other
airbags.
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically even if one
of the airbags is switched off.
Airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment
› The
 warning light lights up for approximately 3 seconds after the ignition
is switched on and then flashes again for approximately 12 seconds.
Front passenger airbag switched off with the key switch in the storage com-
partment
› The
 warning light comes on for about 3 seconds after the ignition has
been switched on.
› The

 3

» Fig. 12 on page 18 warning light comes on when the ignition
is switched on.
Note
■ The national regulations for switching off airbags must be observed.■A ŠKODA Service Partner will be able to inform you which airbags in your ve-
hicle can/must be deactivated.Switching off the front passenger airbagFig. 12
Key-operated switch for the front passenger airbag/warning light
for front seat passenger airbag deactivation
Only the front passenger airbag is deactivated with the key switch.
Switching off
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the passenger door.
›
Fold the key bit out completely for the radio key » .
›
Carefully insert the key into the key slot in the key switch as far as the stop.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch into position
2
» Fig. 12 OFF .
›
Pull the key out of the slot in the key switch » .
›
Close the passenger door.
›
Check whether the
3


 1)
warning light in the 



 mes-
sage in the centre of the dash panel lights up after the ignition has been
switched on.
Switching on
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the passenger door.
›
Fold the key bit out completely for the radio key » .
›
Carefully insert the key into the key slot in the key switch as far as the stop.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch into position
1
» Fig. 12 ON .
›
Pull the key out of the slot in the key switch » .
›
Close the passenger door. 
1)
The
  airbag warning light comes on for a few seconds after the ignition is switched on, goes out for
about 1 second and then comes on again.
18Safety

Using the system
Cockpit
OverviewDoor opening lever
44
Electrical power windows
52
Electric exterior mirror adjustment
64
Air outlet vents
85
Parking ticket holder
80
Operating stalk:
› Turn signal light, headlight and parking light, headlight
flasher
57
› Speed regulating system
117
Steering wheel:
› With horn
› With driver’s front airbag
15
›With pushbuttons for radio, navigation system and mobile
phone
92
Instrument cluster: Instruments and warning lights
26
Operating stalk:
› Windscreen wiper and wash system
62
›Multifunction display
29
›MAXI DOT display
33
Button for rear window heater
61
TCS switch
115
Air outlets in the central part of the dash panel
85
Hazard warning light system button
59
Warning light for the deactivated front seat passenger airbag
18
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Operating controls for the heating
86
›Operating controls for the air conditioning system
87
›Operating controls for Climatronic
90
Storage compartments on the front passenger side
81
Front passenger airbag
15
Air outlet vents
85
Key-operated switch for the front seat passenger airbag
1812345678910111213141516171819Door opening lever44
Switch depending on equipment fitted:
› Boot lid remote release
50
›Interior monitor
50
Light switch and headlamp beam adjustment
56, 56
Fuse box in the dashboard
168
Bonnet release lever
139
Lever for adjusting the steering wheel
8
Ignition lock
102
Pedals
104
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Gearshift lever (manual gearbox)
104
›Selector lever (automatic gearbox)
105
Rocker switch for front left seat heating
66
Central locking system
47
Handbrake
104
Rocker switch for front right seat heating
66
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Ashtrays
78
›Storage compartment
82
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Radio
› Navigation system
MDI
99
Note
The layout of the controls on right-hand drive vehicles differs partially from
that shown in » Fig. 18. The symbols on the controls and switches are the
same as for left-hand drive models.2021222324252627282930313233343525Cockpit

The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display.Gearbox overheated. Stop. Log book!
Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, and wait until the 
icon goes out –
there is a risk of gearbox damage. You can continue your journey as soon as
the icon disappears.WARNINGIf you have to stop for technical reasons, park the vehicle at a safe distance
from the traffic, switch off the engine and activate the hazard warning light
system » page 59 .
Note
■
Warning messages shown in the MAXI DOT display must be confirmed with
button B » Fig. 24 on page 33 to call up the main menu.■
As long as the operational faults are not rectified, the symbols are always in-
dicated again. After they are displayed for the first time, the symbols continue
to be indicated without any extra messages for the driver.
Warning lights
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
 Handbrake
35
 Brake system
36
 Seat belt warning light
36
 Generator
36
 OPen door
36
 
Engine oil
36
 
Coolant
37
 Power steering
38
 Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
38
 Traction Control System (ASR)
38
 Antilock brake system (ABS)
38
 The rear fog light
39
 Bulb failure
39
 Exhaust inspection system
39
 Glow plug system (diesel engine)
39 EPC fault light (petrol engine)39 Diesel particulate filter (diesel engine)39

Fuel reserve
40
 Airbag system
40
 Tyre pressure
41
 Windscreen washer fluid level
41

Traction control (TCS) switched off
41
 
Turn signal system
41
 Low beam
41
 Fog lights
41
 Cruise control system
41
 Selector lever lock
42
 Main beam
42
The warning lights show certain functions/faults and may be accompanied by
audible signals.
WARNING■ If illuminated warning lights and the corresponding descriptions and
warning notes are not observed, this may result in severe injuries or major
vehicle damage.■
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. There is a risk of
injuries, scalding, accidents and fire when working in the engine compart-
ment, e.g. inspecting and replenishing oil and other fluids. It is essential to
observe safety notes » page 138, Engine compartment .
 Handbrake
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light  comes on if the handbrake is applied. An audible warning
is also given if you drive the vehicle for at least 3 seconds at a speed of more
than 6 km/h.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Release parking brake!
35Instruments and Indicator Lights

 Power steeringRead and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light 
comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched
on.
If the warning light after switching on the ignition or when driving lights up
continuously, a fault exists in the electrohydraulic power steering. The power
steering operates with reduced steering assist or does not function at all.
Seek help from a specialist garage.
Note
■ If the yellow warning light  goes out after the engine is restarted and a
short drive, it is not necessary to visit a specialist garage.■
If the vehicle battery has been disconnected and reconnected, the yellow
warning light 
comes on after switching on the ignition. The warning light
should go out after driving a short distance.
■
There is no power-assisted steering support when the vehicle is being towed
without the engine running or when the power-assisted steering is defect.
The vehicle is fully steerable however. There is however increased force re-
quired to turn the steering wheel.
 Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light flashes  to show that the ESC is currently operating.
If the warning light  comes on immediately after you start the engine, the
ESC might be switched off due to technical reasons. Switch the ignition off and
on again. The ESC is fully functional again if the  warning light does not light
up after you switch the engine back on.
There is a fault in the ESC system if the  warning light lights up.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Error: Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Seek help from a specialist garage.
The ESC system cannot be turned off, the 
» page 115 button only switches
the TCS off, the  warning light in the instrument cluster lights up.
As the ESC operates in conjunction with the ABS, the ESP indicator light will
also come on if the ABS system fails.
Further information » page 114, Stabilisation control (ESC) .
Note
The  warning light comes on after the ignition is switched on if the vehicle's
battery has been disconnected and reconnected. The warning light should go
out after the vehicle has driven a short distance.
 Traction Control System (ASR)
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light flashes  to show that the ASR is currently operating.
If the warning light  comes on immediately after starting the engine, the ASR
can be switched off for technical reasons. Switch the ignition off and on again.
The TCS is fully functional again if the  warning light does not light up after
you switch the engine back on.
If the warning light  lights up, there is a fault in the ASR.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Error: Traction control (ASR)
Seek help from a specialist garage.
The fact that the TCS system operates together with the ABS means that the TCS warning light will also come on if the ABS system is not operating proper-
ly.
Further information » page 115, Traction Control System (ASR) .
Note
The  warning light comes on after the ignition is switched on if the vehicle's
battery has been disconnected and reconnected. The warning light should go
out after the vehicle has driven a short distance.
 Antilock brake system (ABS)
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
If the warning light 
lights up, there is a fault in the ABS. 
38Using the system